More of Christ Less of Me

Disclosed

We are living in the last days… where people in the fleshly nature are self-centred… They make a decision of what they want done and they go all out to get it no matter what or how… Deeds of darkness are rampant everywhere and sadly many Christians who call them so aren’t exempt either. When one scheme seems to give them victory, they go on to the next… They feel they have managed to fool others. So they test the waters and go a little deeper… more and more each time. What they are doing is “well hidden and concealed” so they forget to fear and begin to believe that they can get away with murder – literally. Soon they begin to fool themselves! Greed drives them – for power, for luxury, for a better lifestyle, for comfort, for indulgence, for a good name…

David did one thing wrong – he didn’t go out to war when the kings should be doing so… instead he stayed behind. One wrong thing led to another and another… He was good at covering up his mistakes – well so he thought so. However, nothing escapes God’s eyes. God is a forgiving God, slow to anger yet He is a God of justice and righteousness. God sent a prophet to confront David and David confessed and repented. God embraced him with arms of love. What he tried to hide was disclosed and David owned up. He wasn’t subject to God’s anger as a result of it.

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known – Matthew 10:26

Jesus said this to the disciples when He sent them out to the people as sheep amid wolves… He instructed them to find a place to stay… and told them what lay ahead in their journeys. Jesus then encouraged them not to be afraid with this promise that nothing can be hidden.

Mark records Jesus saying, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear. Consider carefully what you hear,” He continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more.Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” – Mark 4:21-25

Luke qualifies this analogy of the lamp along similar lines:

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.” – Luke 8:17-18

and by also saying:

“See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you” – Luke 11:35-36

Jesus called us to be the light of the world. How can we be darkness, if we are the light? Doesn’t light shed away darkness? Jesus Himself tells us to see to it that the light within us is NOT darkness.

He says..

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” – John 8:12

In other words, we will never walk in darkness if we follow Him. What a mighty challenge that is!

Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil – John 3:19

What do we love? Darkness because our deeds are evil? Or light because we follow Jesus? Time for major reflection and inner heart surgery do you think?

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light…. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. – Romans 13:12,14

Galatians 5:19-21 clearly spells out the acts of the selfish / sinful nature – Greed and selfish ambition included. To put on the armour of light, to be light, we need to put aside the deeds of darkness.. and not think about gratifying the sinful nature! The day is almost here – are we ready?

Paul writes that the Lord judges him…

Wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God – 1 Corinthians 4:5

The darkness is not about our deeds alone but also the motives of our hearts. God doesn’t look at appearances but our motives. What are we hiding today – from God? from each other? from ourselves?

God is clear that living in darkness is not going to get us anywhere other than perhaps being thrown into eternal fire. We may fool ourselves in what we do, we may fool others but God says all will be disclosed. Not only does God warn us not to be of the darkness, He also makes it clear…

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them – Ephesians 5:1

Notice how deeds of darkness are described – they are “FRUITLESS”.

How do you handle / face deeds of darkness?

Do you have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness?

Do you have the courage or desire to expose them? If so, why not?

Remember the deeds of darkness are FRUITLESS. Not exposing them makes us a part of the sin. It is the antidote of loving our neighbours as encouraging fruitless deeds is encouraging the person walk on the wrong path and is also allowing other innocent people to fall victim in their traps.

“A guileless mind is a great treasure; it is worth any price” – A. W. Tozer